Seven Eritrean players flee after AFCON qualifier, says head coach Hesham Yaka

Seven members of Eritrea’s national football team have reportedly gone missing following their country’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying victory over Eswatini, according to coach Hesham Yakan.

Eritrea had only recently returned to AFCON qualifiers this year, marking its first appearance since the 2008 campaign.

The nation had previously restricted its teams from travelling abroad after several players from its under-20 squad defected to Uganda in 2019.

Speaking to Reuters, Yakan said most of the missing players were substitutes and suggested they may be seeking better economic opportunities elsewhere. He added that he does not expect them to return to professional football.

“Most of them are substitute players,” Yakan said. The players have been missing since the second leg of the tie on March 31, and the coach said he believed they would try to find economic opportunities in wealthier countries.

“I do not think they will continue playing football,” said Yakan, a former Egypt defender who featured at the 1990 World Cup.

The missing players disappeared after the second leg of the tie on March 31.

Eritrea secured a 4-1 aggregate win, having earlier claimed a 2-0 victory in Morocco, where the first leg was played due to the country lacking a stadium that meets Confederation of African Football standards.

The squad included players based in countries such as Australia, Germany, Norway, and Sweden.

The 2027 AFCON tournament is set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.